The Cost of Living in Seattle Has Some Residents Grumbling

There’s a lot to like about living in Seattle. The food, culture, jobs, and more have a lot to offer prospective residents. However, like any city; there are a few downsides as well. In fact, the cost of living in Seattle and the surrounding region is getting too much for some citizens.

In a recent survey, 2,000 residents of King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish county were polled on what they dislike the most about living along the Puget Sound region. You may think that an area notorious for its rain might see “weather” top the list.

Not so fast.

The Responses

Of the 2,000 residents polled, what residents dislike the most:

Cost of Living: 29%

Transportation/traffic congestion: 13%

Homelessness: 12%

The last time this survey was conducted in 2003, 52% of respondents listed “traffic and transportation” as their most disliked part of living in the region. A lot has changed in the last 15 years.

It isn’t localized to Seattle either. While the cost of living in Seattle IS incredibly high, the surrounding areas are just as bad, if not worse. In nearby Bellevue, Washington rents are among the highest in the nation.

It now costs more to live in Bellevue than in Seattle or other pricey cities such as San Diego and Washington DC. In fact, Bellevue is the 21st most expensive city for renters in the United States. – Patch.com

Introducing City vs City

City vs City is a powerful cost of living calculator that uses local data to calculate your cost of living. By examining costs at the zip-code level, City vs City derives an accurate look at what it takes to live in your city.

Thinking of moving? Use City vs City to compare your current city’s cost of living with another city of your choosing. As a result, you’ll see which city can offer you a better cost of living situation.

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The estimates provided by this cost-of-living calculator are not exact, they are just more precise estimates than what alternative calculators can produce. Always consult with a tax professional before making financial decisions